The feathery plumes of the pampas grass can be seen towering over the Systematic Beds.
Cortaderia selloana is a vigorous plant which forms dense tussocks of arching strappy leaves to 2.5m in length. From these tussocks emerge the flowers which comprise many individual spikelets to form a feathery panicle which can grow to 3m in height. C. selloana occurs in the plains (or pampas) of temperate South America, hence the familiar common name pampas grass. In cultivation it enjoys an open, well-drained site, and, given plenty of space, it makes an impressive specimen. Containing 20 species of clump-forming grasses from South America, the genus belongs to the grass family Poaceae. Economically this is the most valuable plant family, containing many of our food staples such as cereals, rice and maize, and which is also estimated to account for 25% of the world’s vegetation cover.